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Until he died of fever aside the Mississippi River in 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto had been on a quest to find riches, especially gold, to fill his coffers. Confident the precious metal existed in what today is Southeast America, de Soto amassed more than 600 men, 200 horses, massive Irish wolfhounds and numerous pigs to accompany him on what would be a four year exploration or entrada.

Mrs. Bright E. Harris, 93, of 123 Buckingham Boulevard, Sumter and formerly of Camden, died Wednesday, September 5, 2012. Family and friends may call at the residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announce at a later date by Brown's Funeral Home, Camden who is serving the Harris family.

Service to celebrate the life of Alma Newman Hilton, 95, will be held Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Timrod Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The Rev. James Wallace and the Rev. David Robinson will officiate. The family will receive friends Friday 1:30-3:00 p.m. prior to the service in the church fellowship building. Memorials may be made to Timrod Baptist Church, 4227 Timrod Road, Bethune, S.C. 29009.

Kershaw County residents with long political memories might recall the 1980 Democratic presidential campaign, when Sen. Ted Kennedy challenged incumbent President Jimmy Carter for the party's nomination. On a television interview, Kennedy was asked why he wanted to be president, which should have been a political softball for him. Instead, he stumbled and bumbled, never really delivering a decent answer, and it was the beginning of the end for his campaign.

The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) is planning to show the Southeastern Americana exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 15. In conjunction with the finale of Kershaw County's Got Talent, a black and white photography exhibit by Lugoff photographer Robbie Hinson will open in the Bassett Gallery with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. followed by the Kershaw County's Got Talent Finale at 7 p.m. The exhibit will run through Oct. 12.

Entering contests has never been something I liked to consider. I know only too well my limitations. My mother, for example, would often look at me, shake her head, and say, "I don't know what I am going to do if you don't keep growing!" I had often thought the same thing and needed no reminder. My older brother spent a good deal of his time instructing me in my homeliness and stupidity. Not having the traits of beauty or family connections, I grew up well aware of my drawbacks and too wise to draw attention to myself ...

Auditions for an exciting Teen Production at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County (FAC) are fast approaching. Fame, Jr., a collaboration with the FAC and Columbia Children's Theatre will be held Sunday, Sept. 9 and Monday, Sept. 10 in the Wood Auditorium at the FAC starting at 6 p.m. Fame, Jr. will be directed by Jerry Stevenson, artistic director of the Columbia Children's Theatre (CCT.) The auditions are open to 6th graders through age 18. There is no audition fee.

The Kershaw County Parks and Recreation Department will hold a pair of umpire certification clinics for those individuals seeking to work Dixie Youth and/or Dixie Boys and Dixie Majors baseball games this spring and summer.